Severn and Solent Rail Rover Day 5

October 1st and todays trip is Day Five and is to be to the West Somerset Railway's Autumn Steam Gala.  I got all my timings for the trains last night, the 7am Cross Country Voyager from Cardiff to Bristol Temple Meads, and then another Voyager from Bristol Temple Meads direct to Taunton in time for the 9am bus to the railway.

The 6am train to Cardiff was the Class 153 unit again 153367, and was nice and quiet, especially has I was still bleary eyed. 

I had to make my way to Platform Zero for the train, yes I did say Platform Zero. Anyone else know of a Platform Zero anywhere.

 I had plenty of time, it only being 6.20am.  That was my thoughts but that instantly changed to panic, for checking my tickets to go through the barriers to the platform, I did not have my one half of the Rail Rover ticket, the train I had just arrived on had left so couldnt check if I had dropped it, unsure what to do I boarded the train back home in panic, hoping and praying I had left it at home, but deep down gutted that I had been so stupid to possibly have lost or misplaced it with still four days left. Luckily I had my ticket from Barry to Cardiff  but explaining to the ticket collector what I had done, she said there was a possibility I could get a replacement beings I had the date half with me and the Senior Rail Card I had bought it with.  But knowing my luck that would only be a possibility.

On arriving back at Barry I legged it to the house which was luckily only five minutes from the station, and lo and behold there was the little tinker on my computer desk, phew what a relief, I knew exactly what I had done, after every trip I remove the extra tickets to get from certain points from the wallet and put the Rover ticket back, obviously this time I hadn't. I was so pleased to see it there I can tell you.  I legged it back to the station and caught the same train back to Cardiff, the ticket collector was also pleased I had found it, and I didn't have to pay again.  Arriving back at Cardiff I was now only running half hour late due to the habit of always going a lot earlier than I needed to incase of delays to any connecting services, or numpties forgetting tickets.

The train to Bristol was now 158956 but I did not really care what I was on I was just glad to be on my way.

I now didn't have any train times for the services to Taunton so a quick check on the boards at Bristol showed there was only ten minutes to wait for the 8.44am Cross Country Service to Taunton which was to be a Voyager.  Settling down in a nice seat the train sped off at a fair rate of knots due to being a direct service to Taunton.  I had not travelled this route for a long time so was a pleasant change to see some different scenery.  Twenty five minutes into the journey and bang the brakes came on very heavily, and the train came to a very very quick halt from what I suspect was around the 100mph area, the last few yards juddering badly, people looked at each other has if to say that did not feel right.  Suspecting an emergency I thought this is not turning out to be my day yet again.  Twenty minutes stopped in the middle of nowhere, with the train manager walking up and down the train was quite worrying, but then came an announcement, "sorry for the delay we are experiencing signalling problems in this area and hopefully we will be on the move again shortly".  We were soon off and arrived at Taunton with only a five minute wait for the bus. 

Sitting on the bus I could not help but overhear a conversation from some obvious Train Enthusiasts who were knowledgeable in their field, adorned with cameras and railway books and magazines.  "Were you on that Voyager" one asked, "I sure was came the reply that was a bad stop",  "Went through a red signal by a long way" came the reply.  Apparently the one gentleman had overheard the train manager talking to another member of staff saying you will have to cover my duties has the driver had over run a red light, and the emergency brakes have come on,  and she now had to go and sit by the driver before the train could proceed.  Now this is only word of mouth and I have no proof this is what had actually happened, but the stop was definately an emergency stop, I could not help but feel a little bit cold inside thinking of what could have happened, if those emergency brakes had not kicked in.

With a sigh of relief at long last I had arrived at Bishop Lydeard station, an all day rover ticket was purchased with hopefully an enjoyable and incident free few hours riding the steam trains.  The next train to the terminus at the other end Minehead was at 11am, so plenty of time to take some photographs before the first journey. 

 

This was to be my Chariot puller to Minehead

My Seat for the journey 

I boarded the train early, with the intention of getting a decent seat has experiences on past visits showed that the trains fill up very quickly.  The guard's whistle and the trains whistle sounded and were off, on a journey of pure nostalgia like a time machine.  The stations passed were as they were in days gone by all adorned with signs, milk churns and old railway trolleys from the past, and all well looked after with lots of pride.  The station names sounded just has old world as the era the railway was depicting, Crowcombe, Stogumber, Williton, Watchet, Blue Anchor and Dunster just to name some.  We passed rolling hills green fields and quaint cottages, as well as the numerous lineside photographers in strategically placed spots.  At certain points we passed the train coming the other way, and people clambered to get a door window to get a photograph of the passing train, or even just to stand and listen to the sounds of the steam locomotives working their trains.  The journey was unbelievable and well worth the trip, the full journey took one and half hours of sheer pleasure and comfort on real train seats.  

We arrived at Minehead bang on time, a mass exodus of the train began, many going to the station shops, many just taking photographs and many just walking into the seaside town of Minehead itself.  My plan was to get some photographs and catch the next train back to Williton which is the diesel maintenance depot stop.

Nunney Castle was a non runner which upset many who had come to see it run.

4160 was to be my Locomotive back to Williton

I boarded the train for the journey to Williton, managed to secure a seat more or less in the front and could hear the engine in full flow for the full journey awesome, wish I had been able to record it.

Arriving at Williton the sun was now beating down getting hotter by the minute.  Over the old footbridge adorned with photographers awaiting the trains departures and I was ready  for another photograph session. 

No 88 arrives at Williton with a Bishop Lydeard to Minehead

Followed not long after by 3850 from Minehead in the passing loop.

With a nice load of photographs it was time to move on, the heat was starting to get to me so firstly it was important to take on some fluids.  I was lucky enough to board the train hauled by No. 88 The Plan being to get back to Washford, has passing through the first time I noticed "Braunton" and some vintage wagons on show.  I do love riding these old trains but sadly time goes by so fast when your enjoying  yourself.
Arriving at Washford it was obvious "Braunton" was just shunting back and forth and on making enquiries, I was told that she had shed a tyre the day before, that was two of the main trains out of service, I bet that has led to some complaints.

 34046 "Braunton"

 

 

 34070 "Manston"

This was to be my final locomotive ride of the day back to Bishop Lydeard.  To be honest it was quite a difficult journey the heat was unbearable in the carriages despite all windows open, with people cluttered around the open windowed doors to get some sort of breeze if it was only to be a little.  I was really starting to struggle with the heat when we got back to Bishop Lydeard, and headed straight for the shop to get some cooling iced lollies and drinks, I suffer with heat problems anyways because of Thyroid problems and do not feel the cold, it was difficult for most on this journey but even more so for myself.  I took a  seat in the shade, plenty of fluids was priority, I took in the smells and sights for a while whilst I rested.  Sufficiently recovered I had a wander around the station buildings, model railways and museums, and following one last photograph I made my way to the now awaiting bus back to Taunton.

My thanks to the West Somerset Railway for a truly wonderful day.  I will be back

My transport home from Taunton was a Class 150/1 and was on its way to Cardiff which was okay plenty of windows and plenty of leg room on a hot day, and I was pleasantly suprised at the speed, I am not sure if they have had any modifications or not. 

Another one of my gaffs was imminent, I did not check the stopping stations for this service.  Pulling into the seaside town of Weston Super Mare on a Saturday on probably one of the hottest days of the year albeit the 1st of October was a big mistake, whilst viewing what must have been a few hundred passengers adorned with beach gear and red skin like lobsters clambering towards the not yet open doors of a 2 coach Class 150 is kind of scary and I couldnt help thinking to myself why did I not check.  But suprisingly they did all get on but it was now wall to wall hot bodies. Some sense was mustered by staff for a change and an announcment that this service was not now a stopping service but straight through to Bristol Temple Meads was very acceptable, but obviously not for the passengers expecting the stopping service who had to then clamber off.  

Arriving at Bristol there seemed little movement in anyone getting off so I made a dash for it and got off, I wasnt feeling comfortable in that overcrowded train after my traumas of the day, so we parted company.

There was another Class 150 to Bristol Parkway waiting, this was by far a better option and a quick change at Bristol Parkway and I was aboard the First Great Western HST to Cardiff and home.  The end of another memorable day with lots of photographic memories to share.  Hopefully soon I will have an events section on my photograph website where I can show many more images of my days out.

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